Knee injuries could impact Griffin's decision
Big pay for freshman? Or year to get better?
Knee injuries could impact Griffin's decision

By Scott Wright

Published: March 10, 2008

NORMAN — Perhaps the braces wrapped tightly around both knees of Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin have caused him to loosen his stance on returning to Oklahoma for his sophomore season.

"We'll see,” the 18-year-old Griffin said Saturday when asked if he would be leaving for the NBA after his fantastic freshman year. "After the season, we'll see.”

That's a bit different from his comments last month that his return was "a pretty sure thing.”

Two knee injuries in six weeks will do that to a kid.

Griffin talked around the injury issue on Saturday, saying he will let his NBA Draft-readiness dictate whether he stays or goes. But deep down, the knee injuries could play a factor, and it could work one of two ways:

•1. The injuries could make Griffin nervous, and more willing to jump at the impending payday. Assuming he goes somewhere in the first round, which he almost surely would, that would mean a guaranteed salary between $4.8 million and $950,000 per year for a minimum of two years.

•2. The idea of being labeled as "injury prone” could motivate Griffin to return for his sophomore season, because a full season without an injury would likely erase that possibility. And while his name is being tossed around as a potential lottery pick this year, he is being mentioned as the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, a draft that currently doesn't look to be as deep as 2008.

However, many of the factors he'll weigh in making his decision are the same as they were before he ever got hurt.

He'll still look at whether or not he believes (or NBA people believe) he is ready to make an impact at the next level. Griffin isn't the type of person to be satisfied with being a lottery pick, sitting the bench and collecting a healthy paycheck. He wants to play.

He'll still look at the success OU had in his freshman year and the potential for more success next season, with the addition of high-caliber guard Willie Warren. Griffin is used to winning, and the idea of playing in a Final Four motivates him.

And he'll still look at his brother, Taylor Griffin, and see the chance to send him out with a successful senior season in 2009. Their parents, Tommy and Gail, believe in the importance of family, and those words weren't lost on their sons.

It's a lot to think about, but Griffin has some time. The early entry deadline for this summer's NBA Draft is April 27.

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